Milk truck pursuit ends with arrest

A 33-year-old Spokane Valley man was arrested Friday morning after a five-mile pursuit involving a stolen milk truck.

Edward J. Payne led officers on a chase that slowed to a crawl after the second of two trailers on the truck tipped over, said Spokane County sheriff’s Sgt. Dave Reagan. Several vehicles were run off the road as the suspect continued driving, dragging the second trailer for nearly a mile.

Payne finally came to a stop after hitting a car and was taken into custody, Reagan said. The driver of the 1977 Toyota, Anatoliy Martsin, was unhurt, but the car sustained about $1,000 in damage.

Police were called to the Flying J West truck stop at Geiger Boulevard and I-90 shortly before 6 a.m. on a report that Payne was possibly intoxicated and arguing with customers, Reagan said. Deputies removed Payne from the premises but were called back to the truck stop about 7:15 a.m.

Reagan said that before deputies arrived on the second call, Payne stole the truck, owned by T & T Milk Transport Inc., after threatening the truck’s driver with a silver object that the driver believed to be a weapon.

Payne will face felony charges of first degree robbery, vehicle theft and eluding police, as well as a misdemeanor count of driving under the influence, Reagan said.